Family Literacy Night
Join VDOE to Kick off the 2021-2022 School Year
Join the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to kick off the 2021-2022 school year as we engage families and communities in fostering a love for literacy! Choose from a variety of informative sessions hosted by Virginia Department of Education specialists and coordinators as well as educators and community groups from across the Commonwealth. Gain resources and supports that will allow literacy and learning to flourish at home and throughout your community.
Session information and registration links can be found below. All sessions will be live-streamed on the 
VDOE YouTube channel. Sessions will be recorded and posted at the conclusion of the event.
Session 1 (6-7 p.m.)
Option 1: Early Childhood- Early Literacy Starts at Home
Session Description
Early literacy skill building begins at home, with families as young children’s first and forever teachers. In this session, we will explore ways families can support early literacy, focusing on communication, language development activities and engaging children with books. We will also talk about the importance of exposing all children to diversity in literature.
Presenter
- Tamilah Richardson, Director, Office of Early Childhood Learning, Virginia Department of Education
Option 2: An Explanation of Your Student’s SOL Reports
Session Description
This session will provide parents and families with the necessary information to understand your student’s SOL test reports. The intent of the session is to assist parents in using the information in the reports to provide support at home and to guide conversations with their child’s teacher.
Presenter
- Jason Ellis, Test Results Utilization Specialist, Virginia Department of Education
Option 3: Family Field Trips: Connecting Literacy to the Commonwealth
Session Description
In this session, participants will take an in-depth look at the Virginia Standards of Learning for secondary English and learn how to support student learning by integrating the standards into everyday activities at home and in the community. Specifically, this presentation focuses on learning opportunities for excursions within the Commonwealth of Virginia that are aligned to the state standards. Parents, families, and community members are encouraged to attend.
Presenters
- Tiffany Lewis, Education Coordinator for Culturally Responsive Learning, Henrico County Public Schools
- Ashley Walker, Assistant Principal, Henrico County Public Schools
Session 2 (7:15-8 p.m.)
Option 1: Family Engagement: Supports for the Home
Session Description
When our children are doing school work at home, whether they're only doing their homework or they're utilizing a full virtual learning model, parents often find it to be a struggle. Join us for a short presentation that will address various learning issues that our kids encounter, such as attentiveness, procrastination, frustration, organization, and rushing through their work. We’ll also discuss strategies that can be quickly implemented at home.
Presenter
- Tracy Lee, Coordinator of Family Engagement Virginia Department of Education
Option 2: Choosing Reading Materials for the Children in your Lives
Session Description
This session will provide ideas for families and community members about selecting and sharing books with children. We will share ideas and provide guidance about what to look for when choosing reading materials for the children in their lives. We will not only explore printed books, but also discuss using audiobooks, e-books, and other online reading materials. Participants will be provided with information about where to find reading materials for children and ideas for making connections with those materials.
Presenter
- Tammy Williams, Division Level Reading Coach, Tazewell County Public Schools
- Jennifer Floyd, Reading Specialist, Rockbridge County Public Schools
Option 3: Virginia Association for Teachers of English
Session Description
Join the Virginia Association of Teachers of English as we talk about books and resources. Learn about our Literacy Explosion and find out what your local public library may be offering. We’ll also share opportunities to enter writing contests and celebrate literacy at local book festivals.
Presenters
- Cheryl Golden, English Teacher, Hanover County Public Schools
- Latrece Younger, Assistant Principal, Culpeper County Public Schools
Session 3 (8:15-9 p.m.)
Option 1: Equity & Community Engagement
Session Description
Culture strongly influences the attitudes, values, and behaviors that students and teachers bring to the instructional process, making culturally responsive educators necessary for the equitable achievement of today’s increasingly diverse student population. The Office of Equity and Community Engagement is strategically focused on advancing equity through culturally responsive practice. Join this session to learn more about culturally responsive literacy instruction that enhances learning, improves student experience, and advances equity.
Presenter
- Jenné Nurse, Equity Coordinator, Office of Equity and Community Engagement, Virginia Department of Education
Option 2: Understanding Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
Session Description
Phonological awareness (PA) and phonemic awareness are foundational reading skills that are essential for learning to read. Learn what these skills look like, why they are important, and how parents and caregivers may reinforce these skills at home.
Presenter
- Kim Bausum-Brown, Dyslexia and Specialized Reading Specialist, Virginia Department of Education
Option 3: An Introduction to Rubrics and Scoring
Session Description
Rubrics describe the criteria necessary for success on a task, product, or assessment and are used to evaluate different levels of achievement based on evidence presented in a specific sample of student work. In this session, we will look at some examples of rubrics used with Virginia students and talk about the differences between scoring and grading. Families will learn how their children can use the descriptive feedback in a rubric to self-assess and make adjustments during the learning process.
Presenter
- Holli Cook, Assessment Coordinator, Virginia Department of Education